Only the space of a breath separates us now.
“All of you thought you were so special. Beautiful, or accomplished, or famous.” He drags his eyes up and down my body and licks his lips. “Exactly the kind of girls I like to bring down a peg or two.”
He leans over and strokes my neck. “But you were the most fun, Brooke. I loved watching you rehearse your lines. So serious. So dedicated. There’s more to you than just sparkle. I wanted to let you live. I really did.” He tilts his head. “So I could keep watching.”
Arm stretched behind me, I push and pull on the hunk of stone. The ragged edge slices my palm. But I ignore the pain, squeezing tight as I try to keep Lyam from noticing.
“You’re a monster,” I say, filling my voice with contempt. I want him to hear how disgusted I am. I want to keep his focus on my words.
And not what I’m doing behind my back.
“Killing them was never about power in the blood. Not for you.” I curl my lip in revulsion. Even now, as he stands over me. Bigger, stronger, and experienced in the ways of murder. “You’re nothing special. Just an everyday psycho, a common pervert who was born into privilege and had the luxury of living out his sick fantasies.”
Lyam’s face twists, anger narrowing his empty eyes. “There’s nothing common about me.” The slap comes out of nowhere. An explosion in my cheek before I slump against the wall.
Lyam drops down, straddling my body. He wraps one hand around my throat. And with the other, he lifts the hook.
He presses the sharp point to my breast. Then gives one, quick pull.
I scream when the metal cuts my flesh.
Lyam tightens his grip on my throat, squeezing until I start to wheeze.
“Don’t worry. You’ll be back,” he says. “I’ll watch your sparkle fade many times before I’m through.”
As he chokes me, my free hand shoots out, pressing against his chest. But his arms are longer, and my attempts to block him are like a child’s—weak and ineffective.
My lungs seize up. My head feels swollen. And beneath the pain, the horrible knowledge of what comes next.
Because Lyam told me.
He’ll choke me until I black out, then revive me again. He’ll bring me back just to kill me. Over and over and over, watching me die until he gets bored. Until the last time.
The last time for me.
But there will always be another girl.
The thought sparks a fury in my belly. And fury becomes a fire, a blaze of energy burning from my center. I lift my arms up through his, then drive my elbows back down.
His arms buckle, breaking his grip, and he slides to one side.
Air flows down my throat like cool water, giving me a small boost, just enough to kick out. My foot hits Lyam on his hip, and he loses his balance. Gaining his feet, he leans against the wall to steady himself. Which buys me a few crucial seconds.
I roll over and smash my hand on the broken chunk. A loudcrack!fills the stairwell as the piece breaks free. I grab it and stand up, facing the monster.
It’s not a brick. And Lyam’s not a vampire.
But close enough.
Lyam lunges for me, and I slice out, leaving a gash in his forearm.
“Fucking bitch!” He curses me, his eyes narrowed and teeth bared.
I scramble to my feet and into the chamber, backing up to the metal door.
Lyam rushes after me, too angry to care about the weapon in my hand.
With a roar, I smash the rock into his jaw.
